Improvement in self-heating smoothing-irons



J. S. HULL.

SELF HEATING sMooTHING IRON.

No.81r266, Patented Aug. Z2, 1876.

N PETERSY PHOTLITHOGRAFHER. WASHIN N.

Nrrnzn S'IA'rlns PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. HULL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SVELFfKHELATlNG SMOTHIN-G-IRONS. i

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,266,1dated August2A2, 1876; application filed November 12, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. HULL, of Oincinnati, inthe county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, h'aveinvented an lImproved Self- HeatingSmoothing-Iron; and I do hereby declare that the following is a fulland4 exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of this specification- Figure 1 being a sideview of my improved self-heating smoothing-iron, provided with theself-heating apparatus; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal ver-tical sectionof the smoothing-iron proper; `Fig. 3, a top view of the smoothingiron,the top being removed.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The nature of my invention consists in a smoothing-iron provided with aclose reservoir for containing a combustible iiuid, and the vpressure ofcompressed air for driving the iuid to the burner with sufficient forceto produce a blowing flame; and with a self gas-generating burner forproducing the iiame from the combustible uid; and also in thearrangement of the combustible-fluid reservoir above the smoothing-iron,so as to compact and bal'- ance the instrument for convenient use; andin the arrangement of an air-condenser, so as Ato serve the additionalpurpose of a-handle for the smoothing-iron; and in the construction ofthe smoothing-iron to diffuse and equalize the heat, and protect thehand from being burned thereby, all substantially as herein specified.

The principal parts of the instrument are the body, or smoothing-ironproper, A; the reservoir B, to contain a hydrocarbon oil or othercombustible iiuid from which to produce heat; an air-condensing chamber,C, for condensing air in the reservoir; and a gas-generating burner, D,to produce a blowing iame, which impinges against the smoothing-iron.'

The smoothin g-iron A has a removable top, a, to which are securedsupports b b, by which the reservoir Bis attached thereto and supported.The reservoir B may be of oany convenient shape, the cylindrical formshown being simple, convenient, and good in all respects. It has aremovable stopper, d, at one end, by the removal of which access is hadto the interior supplying the reservoir with the combustible iiuid;also, a vent-valve, f, to let offthe surplus air, if desired, at theclose of its use at any time.

The condensin g-chamber is connected iixedly with the reservoir bytwostandards, g g, one or both of which is hollow, to serve as a meansof forcing the compressed air from the chamber to the reservoir. Iteither has a condensing-piston within, Yor the condensing-piston andbarrel maybe a separate instrument, and temporarily attached to it onlyfor forcing the air into it and the reservoir, and then detached, inwhich case an attaching-pipe, h, is employed, with a stopper, i, andcheck-valve l. This'condensing-chamber or tube serves the additionalpurpose of a handle to hold and l operate the instrument by.

The burner D is connected with the reservoir B by a connecting-pipe, m,and delivers the oil under pressure through a very small jet-aperturecontrolled by a line conical or needle point, which is provided attheouter end of its shaft with a milled head, a, whereby to adj ust it.

When it is lighted, the heat of the Iiame communicates sufficient heatt0 the metal of the burner-jet to gasify the oil therein and produce agas-jet, the pressure of which increases with the pressure of air uponthe fluid in the lreservoir B, and the amount of which allowed to escapearound the adjustable needle-point varies the length and heat of theiiame as desired. Air to supply the combustion is admitted through'holes o o in a tube surrounding dame.

The flame of the burner is directed by the said tube p into the hollowsmoothing-iron A, and is caused to impinge against a raised crossridge,r, of an interior plate, E, which rests on the bottom of thesmoothing-iron, so that the said bottom is protected from too intenseheat where the ame-burner strikes. This plate is best made of copper, torapidly diiuse and equalize the heat over the bottom.

The products of the combustion escape through holes s sin the sides ofthe smoothing-iron.

To protect the hand of the user, a shield, Gr, made of asbestus, felt,or some other good-noncond uctin g material, is placed over thesmoothing -iron, and beneath the reservoir B. It

is generally in the form of a plate, as represented.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, with a smoothing-iron, of a close reservoir forcontaining a combustible fluid under pressure, and a compressed airchamber for producing the requisite press ure upon the Huid,substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. In combination with a smoothing-iron provided with a close reservoirto contain a combustible fluid, and a compressed air chamber forapplying pressure to the fluid therein, a gas-generating burner forproducing a blowing ame in the smoothing-iron, substantially as and forthe purpose herein specified.

AQ f p p 151,266

condensing chamber, C, constructed vand arranged to serve the additionalpurpose of a handle for the smoothing-iron, substantially as and for thepurpose herein specied.

4. In combination with a self-heatin g smoothing-iron, an interiorplate, E, of copper, and provided with a shield-ridge, r, for diffusingand equalizing the heat of the burner-flame upon the bottom of thesmoothing-iron, sub- `stantially as herein specified.

Specilication signed by me this 3d day of May, 1875.

Witnesses: JOHN S. HULL.

J. S. BROWN, E. M. GALLAHER.

